May 2023 – History of the Day

Archive: May 2023

Great Flood of 1889

May 31, 1889: The most destructive flood of the nineteenth century was the Johnstown Flood, also known as the Great Flood of 1889. Fourteen miles upstream of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the South Fork Dam failed, resulting in catastrophic flooding, millions of dollars in damage, and the death of 2,208 people. The…

Walt Whitman born on Long Island

May 31, 1819: American poet Walt Whitman was born on Long Island and grew up in Brooklyn in the early nineteenth century. Despite having various occupations throughout his life, he found success and fame with his self-published book of poetry, Leaves of Grass, in 1855. Walph Raldo Emerson claimed that…

First U.S. Copyright Law Enacted

May 31, 1790: Under the new constitution, the United States Congress enacted its first copyright law protecting books, maps, and charts for fourteen years, which could then be renewed for fourteen more. This copyright law was based on the British Statute of Anne, but it would be revised continuously to…

Jackson-Dickinson duel

May 30, 1806: Andrew Jackson shot and killed Charles Dickinson in a duel in Adairville, Kentucky. Dickinson was an attorney from Nashville who made derogatory remarks about Jackson’s wife, Rachel and accused the future president of cheating on horse betting. The pair met to duel on the Jeff Burr Farm.

Rhode Island becomes last of original 13 colonies ratifying US Constitution

May 29, 1790: The process of ratifying the U.S. Constitution by the states took some time. It wasn’t until May 29, 1790, that Rhode Island became the last state to ratify it. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania on December 12, 1787.

President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act

May 28, 1830: The Indian Removal Act was a key law leading to the forced removal of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes out of Georgia and surrounding states, setting the stage for the Cherokee Trail of Tears. Indian Removal Act: Primary Documents in American History This…

American petrochemical corporation South Penn Oil Co. was founded in Pennsylvania.

May 27, 1889: South Penn Oil Co, later called Pennzoil Company became an important producer of crude oil and natural gas. Pennzoil’s advancement and prosperity are credited to its inventive approaches to marketing, as well as its substantial brand recognition and influence. Pennzoil Company Written and fact-checked by The Editors…

John Wayne born in Iowa

May 26, 1907: Born Marion Robert Morrison in Winterset, Iowa, iconic American actor and real-life cowboy didn’t take on his new name, John Wayne, until 1930 during his first big movie role. John Wayne, “The Duke,” was a beloved American actor known for his Western roles and patriotism. JOHN…

Constitutional Convention begins in Philadelphia

May 25, 1787: Delegates arrived in Philadelphia to meet in the old state house (now called Independence Hall) with the original goal of revising the Articles of Confederation. Under the influence of James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the group began to lay the framework for an entirely new system of…

Samuel Morse sends first telegraph message

May 24, 1844: Samuel F.B. Morse sent the first telegraphic message over an experimental line from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore. The message “What Hath God Wrought?” was taken from the Bible as suggested by a young girl named Annie Ellsworth, the daughter of Morse’s close friend. What Hath God…